Without help from the community, Dawson County will have no Sparks in the Park fireworks display this Fourth of July.

It was a decision made by the parks and recreation board, Dawson County Commission Chair Mike Berg said. Their board relied on donations, and they were not able to get enough donations to pay for the fireworks, which I understand had gone way up in price.

Jeremy Porter, owner of Atlanta Motorsports Park, wants to help. He has offered his facility as a venue to host the event, but needs support to cover costs, such as fireworks and insurance, and to pay off-duty fire and EMS personnel, sheriffs deputies, and to rent port-a-potties.

The costs are approximately $18,000.

Porter is also working to have the high school marching band perform and would like to hire someone to jump out of an airplane with an American flag.

But its all contingent upon raising funds, he said. Renting my facility for half-a-day is $6,000, but I want to donate that for the community. We should celebrate and remember our Independence Day, and its also good to get the community together and to help foster business and growth in the county and city.

Fireworks alone, Porter said, cost $12,500.

The Dawsonville Development Authority, chaired by Colleen Simrell, also offered to help.

The DDA is looking into presenting the residents of Dawson County with a 4th of July fireworks extravaganza, Simrell said.

Sponsorships are available starting at $100 to $5,000. For more information, you may contact Colleen Simrell at 770-883-8846 or Seanie Zappendorf, 678-643-9019, or email dawsondda@gmail.com.